System comprising a slide rail assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slide rail assemblies with ball retainers face issues where the mounting members on the chassis can collide with the ends of the ball retainers due to installation errors or weight-induced deformation, leading to hindered sliding and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a projecting block on the second rail with an inclined surface and a pushing surface to guide and keep the lateral portion of the ball retainer close to the first rail, preventing collisions and maintaining smooth sliding between the rails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the mounting members are used to fix the chassis to the slide rails, then the chassis can be securely mounted and positioned, but the mounting members may collide with the ends of the ball retainers due to installation errors or deformation
Solution Approach 1:
A guide block is introduced as an intermediary component between the mounting member and the ball retainer. The guide block receives the mounting member and guides it along its lateral surface, preventing direct contact between the mounting member and the ball retainer end. This intermediary structure resolves the conflict by allowing secure mounting while eliminating the collision risk that would compromise sliding reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the slide rails are designed to slide relative to each other via balls in the ball retainer, then smooth sliding motion is achieved, but the ball retainer may deform under heavy loads causing the lateral portion to tilt
Solution Approach 1:
The guide block is positioned in advance to preemptively guide the mounting member before it can cause deformation to the ball retainer. By establishing the correct positional relationship between components through the guide block's lateral surface, the system prevents the tilting deformation that would otherwise occur under heavy loads, maintaining both sliding smoothness and structural stability.
3Volume of moving object
If the lateral portion of the ball retainer is positioned close to the first rail for compact design, then space efficiency is improved, but the mounting member may collide with the ball retainer end due to installation errors
Solution Approach 1:
The guide block serves as a mediator that decouples the positional relationship between the mounting member and the ball retainer. It allows the lateral portion of the ball retainer to remain close to the first rail for compact design while the guide block's lateral surface provides a tolerance-absorbing interface that prevents collision even when installation precision is within normal error ranges.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design prevents the mounting member from colliding with the ball retainer, ensuring smooth sliding and protecting the ball retainer from deformation, even under heavy loads, thus maintaining the functionality and integrity of the slide rail assembly.
Implementation Method 1
The ball assembly includes a ball retainer and a plurality of balls arranged in the ball retainer. The ball assembly is movably mounted between the longitudinally extending main body of the first rail and the longitudinally extending main body of the second rail so that the first rail and the second rail can slide relative to each other via the balls in contact with the rails.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A slide rail assembly (10) for mounting a lateral side (14) of a chassis (12) to a rack (16) includes first and second rails (20, 22) and a ball assembly (26). A sidewall (40) of the second rail (22) has a mounting portion (42) to be mounted to a mounting member (18) on the lateral side (14) of the chassis (12). The ball assembly (26), movably mounted between the rails (20, 22) to facilitate relative sliding thereof, includes a ball retainer (44) whose lateral portion (48) corresponds in position to the space between a sidewall (32) of the first rail (20) and the sidewall (40) of the second rail (22). The sidewall (40) of the second rail (22) includes a projecting block (50) for pushing the lateral portion (48) of the ball retainer (44), keeping the lateral portion (48) close to the sidewall (32) of the first rail (20).